Wire-stretcher.



W. MOGOWEN.

WIRE STRETGHER.

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921 ,872. Patented May 18, 1909.

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W. MGGOWEN. WIRE STRETCHBR. APPLICATION FILED 1120.19.1907. l

Patented May 18, 1909.

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Gtto'mur WALT-ER MCGOWEN, OF FANSHAWE, OKLAHOMA.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1909.

Application filed December 19, 1907. Serial N o. 407,186.

This invention has relation to that classl of wire-stretchers that employ a clamp to engage the ends of the longitudinal wires, a draftbar articulated with the clamp-bar for drawing the fence taut, so that it can be stapled in the progress of its construction to an advanced post, the draft-bar being provided with ratchet teeth on its edges, which teeth are engaged by pawls or dogs, operated by levers, to advance the draft-bar.

The object of the invention is to improve the means that operate on the draft-bar to advance it; to improve the means for getting a hold on the longitudinal wires of the fence, so that the latter can be uniformly stretched, and so that the fence-clamping means can be adjusted to suit different heights of fence; and to improve the machine generally, as will appear from the specification and the annexed drawings forming a part of the same, to which reference is to be had.

Of the said drawings-Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine applied, the plate on the head, from the side viewed, being for the sake of clearness omitted. Fig'. 2 is a similar view showing a somewhat different position of the parts, with the clamp-bar omitted. F ig. 8 is a longitudinal section of parts. Fig. 4t is a perspective view of one of the trip dogs. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail showing the jointing of the pawl levers.

Similar characters of reference designate similar parts or features, as the case may be, wherever they occur.

In the drawings, 1 designates what I may, for the purpose of this specication, term the head the sides 2 of which may consist of plates of cast metal reduced in thickness at their rear parts 3 to make room for the pawls and levers, while they are thicker at their forward ends, 4 so as to reduce the interspace 5 through which the draft-bar 7 passes. The said draft-bar is composed of steel of as great length and strength as may be desired. It is provided on its sides with ratchet teeth 8, arranged in staggered relation to each other, for engagement by the dogs, as will presently appear. Furthermore, the draftbar is provided at its forward end with a chain 10 by which it may be engaged with a stake or post, in drawing a section of the fence forward. A hook 9 is engaged with rods 11 that are in turn connected with the bars 12 between which a section of the fence is clamped. last described may be varied in form, but that shownis considered ver;T efiicient by me for the purpose. These bars 12 are preferably made in two sections as indicated at A and B and are provided with suitable devices 13 to secure the same together. The sections of these bars are preferably held to gether as shown at 14.

15 15 designate dogs that are pivoted on the upper side portions of the head in such position that said dogs may engage the ratchet teeth S of the draft-har 7 alternately, as they are operated by their handles 16, n'ioving the bar along step by step at each operation,

In the operation of this device the handles 16 and 16 are alternately worked. As these handles are worked their respective dogs 15 and 15 engage with the teeth 8 on either side of the bar. Further, by means of the alternate working of the handles 16 and 16 the ratchets 17 and 17 are alternately caused to engage the teeth 8. By reason of this, when one of the handles is being actuated to move the bar forward, the ratchet on the other handle is in engagement with the teeth and prevent the retraction thereof. This action is clearly shown by reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

In order to fold the levers to the dogs 15 15 out of the way when they are not needed, the levers are jointed near their upper ends to the dogs by pivoting a reduced portion thereof in a bifurcation 20 and a sleeve 21 on the reduced end of the lever which is adapted to be moved back and forth thereon may be moved back on the reduced portion and the lever folded in out of the way. Vhen it is desired to connect the lever rigidly with the dog, the sleeve 21 is screwed over the reduced portion connected with the dog across the pivot joint all as will be readily understood by an inspection of the drawings.

The forward end of the draft-bar extends between the spacing blocks 6 as before stated,

The means also projects into a slot formed between twoparts of the extension piece 22 provided with the hook 9 for attaching the bar to the stake as heretofore explained.

The rearward end of the extension piece is pivoted in recesses 23 formed in the sides ofthe head as shown so as to hold it rigidly in place, and a shoulder 2 is formed on the sides of the extension piece 22 so that the pull on the said piece may come against the forward ends of the sides 2 as well as the forward portions of the spacing blocks 23.

Of course, all ofthe parts will be made as strong and heav as may be necessary and they will be s0 p aced and timed in their operation as to effect what has been described as the general mode of opera-tion of the niaohine. 1

What is claimed is- The combination, with the head consisting of two spaced side-plates, of the draftbar, provided on its edges with ratchet teeth, extending through the interspace of the head; dogs, provided with handles pivoted in the head on opposite sides to be a1- ternately engaged with the ratchet-teeth of the draft-bar to ,move it forward, holding pawls pivoted in said dogs and adapted also to be engaged with the ratchet teeth of the draft-har to hold it from being retracted, and throw-out blocks pivoted on the inner sides of the head to be alternately engaged by one dog, when brought into requisition to throw the other dog out.

In testimony whereof, I afx my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

tVVALIER MCGOWEN. itnesses BRINT BRANNON, JOSEPH LEWIS. 

